What Do You Do, When You Get THAT Invitation ? Hastypearl

What Do You Do When You Get THAT Invitation ? 

Hastypearl

That's a leading question, right?

I didn't specify, if it was a Bad invitation or a Good one, did I?

Well, I am happy to say that it was recently for me, a Good one.

A Very Good one!

I have happily and only recently met local San Antonio artists, 

Michelle Belto and Lyn Belisle

Michelle, because of an Encaustics class that I took from her, 

and Lyn, 

because she opened one of the encaustics mornings, for Michelle. 

We also had a Very Happy incident, 

where I was able to connect them,

 with a sudden opening to teach at a Texas Art Workshop.

That was one of those meant to be moments that made at least 4 of us smile, 

and I'm pretty certain that their students smiled, as well.

Anyway, back to my original question!

I happened to be looking through Lyn Belisle's 2015 Workshop schedule, 

where she has the dates linked back to pertinent info.

I found this one date...December 12, 

that didn't have a link.

I FB messaged her inquiring, 

and her response really surprised me....she replied...

I signed You UP !

The first thing that I thought was ....AWESOME !

Not, hmmm...I wonder if I have that date available?

Not, I wonder what she will be doing?

I just thought....AWESOME!

I figured if it was snake handling or something TOOOO risky, 

I could decline.

Otherwise, it didn't matter WHAT she was going to be doing, 

I knew I was in.

Further explanation arrived and I learned that it wasn't just going to be Lyn, 

it was also going to be Michelle!

WHAT???? :)

Turns out, 

they had scheduled some time together in Lyn's beautiful studio, 

to work on some ideas of things that they had been tossing around.

I and two other ladies, were invited to be guinea pigs of sorts, 

and I couldn't have been more thrilled!

So, I guess you have deduced by now, that to the invitation, I said,

YES!!!!!!

The following are a few pics of some of their Mixed Media Art pieces and 

some of the things that we played around doing.

It couldn't have been any MORE WONDER FULL !

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Someone once told me, 

that in any area of your life, 

you should find/seek out people that you admire, 

and simply, do what they do.

For me, its been fun to see how many times that its really been instead...

Laura, watch and see, how you are being GIFTED with connections, 

of people that you admire.

 Its easy to attribute it to Gods hand in my life.

Who else could I trust more? :) 

These two singly, have More Amazing Talent imaginable,

but together, they are a powerfully, compatible Force !

I'm Fine, with having two new people in my life, to Admire :)

Its at times like this that I always think of,

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you.

They will pour into your lap a good measure-

pressed down,

shaken together, 

and running over.

For by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return.

Boy Michelle and Lyn, 

was I given a Good Measure :)

I'm so glad that you stopped by to visit!

I hope that you are enjoying these Wonder-Full days....

Best,

Laura  

Go With The Flow And Break Some Rules.... Hastypearl

Go With The Flow And Break Some Rules....

Hastypearl

OK.

Your are probably ALL stuffed full of Turkey and Appropriate Regional sides, by  now.

Our family did our best, to break our 17 minutes eat time, 

but I'm afraid that we were terribly slow this year.

Towards the end of our meal, we played a solemn little game of, 

Tell Me About You...

Helping Young People Talk to Grown Ups.

There weren't any young people at our table this year, 

not by a long shot, 

but we still had fun answering our questions about ourselves 

and learning some new things about each other.

THENNNNN.....

Something happened, 

that turned our day into total fun!

And it wasn't because of the brilliance of an adult, 

but the honesty of a verrrrrrry young person in our family.

It was time, for the family photos to start coming in 

when my sisters son's family picture arrived in text form.

Upon first gaze, it looked like a lovely pose, 

of a very attractive family and was it...

ooops?

yes,

their toddler daughter at the last second before the shutter clicked, 

had managed to stab her little finger in two knuckles deep, 

for that illusivegottopickit "boogey" !

I cracked up and shared it with my table mates.

Hastily...

well, that's how fast these sordid ideas come to me,

I said, 

lets send them a picture back with us 

digging for our own "boogies" !

Three happy volunteers stepped forward.

I showed my 87 year old mother how to take our picture 

and we were 

OFF TO THE BOOGIE RACES :)

I sent that "pick pic", to many contacts in our family.

It took only seconds when our first Nose Picking Selfie came Right Back !

Hilarious! 

We had momentum!

Then...

Our NOT SHY AT ALL cousins from West, Texas, 

were TWO FINGERS in 

and we were up to 8 PICKERS!

Then a "pic" from A BRAVE Lone Wolf in Baird.

Two more in San Antonio!

We were ON A ROLL.

Two funny jokes videos came in from West and ANOTHER from San Antonio.

Now, we are going, VIRAL !!!

A surprise Pink Pick came in, 

even though she was having fun at a water park in North Carolina!

She STILL had TIME for the family Pick Off !!!

When we doubted the Nixon's...

They DID NOT FAIL, 

but "blew" us away with a Triple Single!

Unbelievable!

But the Best And Final, 

was the very late entry from the 

I CANT MISS OUT ON THIS EPIC PICK,

from Baird, 

and that was IT.

Whew!!

A Fantastic Day of Family "Picking" from all around the Nation :)

All because of One little Girl.

Savanna...you are our Thanksgiving "Pick" for starting the most fun of the day!  

So, as promised.

I lost all decorum with this unseemly posting and have undoubtedly lost your respect, 

but one thing that our family had today was.....

So Much Fun!

What I learned today was...when you cant physically be together..

you can still Pick Together, with the ones that you love...even if from afar.

And as Devo once said...

Now Pick It

    Into Shape 

Shape It Up

Get Straight

Go Forward

Move Ahead

Try to Detect It

Its Not Too Late

To Pick It

Into Shape

Shape It Up

Get Straight

Go Forward

Move Ahead

Try to Detect It

Its Not Too Late

To Pick It

Well, Pick it Good

Please forgive my silliness :)

...and I hope that you all had as wonderful a Thanksgiving, as I did !

Best, Laura

ps. I will now add some serious pictures in attempt 

to gain back your respect, that I have most surely lost :)   

      

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Makes you just want to...Pick it, right? ;)

Intro to Encaustics Hastypearl

Intro to Encaustics 

Hastypearl

I have a Confession to make.

Its not a bad thing, its just a way that I function.

I tend to learn something, and stay in it for a Long while.

When something new or at least new to Me comes along, I resist.

Encaustics is an example.

When I first started hearing about encaustics, 

I thought, oh, its ANOTHER new direction and it 

would take a ton of new equipment, 

I dont WANT new equipment, 

where will I store it...blah blah blah.

THEN, 

I recently had 4four4 ladies come to Crystal Neubaurs workshop, 

that I hosted here at my house, 

that were ALL going to Encausticamp 

and I finally let my wheels start turning :)

One of the ladies, later mentioned on FB, 

that Michelle Belto, a San Antonio artist that I had wanted to meet, 

was going to hold an Intro to Encaustics class

 at Southwest School of Art, 

in  San Antonio.

Boom!

" I test drove the car". 

That's my theory for...never test drive a car or you are probably going to Buy it!

Specifically I mean that, I went to SSA's web site and read about Michelle's Class.

You Know what I'm going to say next!

I (BOUGHT the car)...meaning...I signed up for the Class!

Well, I'm happy to say...that I now GET why everyone loves Encaustics.

Michelle was a fantastic teacher.

Her format was indulgent, to say the least.

First, demo time, to show us the steps, 

tell us about the product and safety issues with working with hot beeswax.

Then...

she sent us back to our stations to Explore, Create, and Play!

She quietly stayed right there with each of us, Encouraging all the way.

Knowing how fascinated with architecture and buildings I am, 

I have to digress and tell you how amazing the entire SSA building and classrooms were.

My husband has a built in square footage skill of walking rooms off with his stride.

I couldn't wait to do that for myself, 

just so that I could tell him how HUGE the classrooms were.

This room that the class was held in was !!!!! 3000 sq. ft. !!!!!!

It was a Fantastic space to be in :)

Two of us shared a table, even though there was one table empty.

The tables were so huge, 

that there was PLENTY of room for two...

plus it was fun And I made a new friend :)

This picture shows the perspective of the space with three working tables lined up.

More working ladies.

Here is Michelle at the end of the weekend, 

doing a little gallery showing of all of our finished pieces.

Its always amazing to me, 

to see the versatility and variety of the humans capabilities,

Colors, Styles, Voices.

If there are 10 people, there are going to be 10 wildly different styles.

I LOVE that!

Here I am working on one of my last pieces.

More end of class gallery time.

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(piece hanging on wall at SSA) 

I've said before, that I've had almost NO art training.

I was a theater student in University, and we had our wonderful fair share of time, 

designing sets, makeup, costumes, etc, 

but with an eventual focus on Learning Differences, 

I ended up getting through without ever taking an art class.

Walking down the halls of Southwest School of Art felt 

like the halls of Trinity University.

All I had to do was read the names of those massive wonderful rooms 

and I knew that I wanted to walk through them and Taste what was inside.

It felt like home.

If felt like sanctuary.

I LOVED the feeling,

It felt like I WOULD be back.

(piece hanging on wall at SSA)

All you had to do was walk up and down the halls,

 and see the great creations on the walls,

 to feel excited about the possibilities!

(piece hanging on wall at SSA)

(I'm sorry that I didn't get the artists names for the above pieces)

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So, these two are my pieces. 

Such yummy colors and products from R&F 

that were provided for the students, 

to combine with our own papers and ideas.

The sky was the limit!

So, Finally, here's Michelle !

What an honor, to spend three days with such a talented artist, 

and thoughtful, vulnerable and provocative woman.

(who by the way, soldiered on and taught even though, her husband was in hospital)

You're another Door Opener for me, Michelle.

We all meet those Important people in our lives, at Just the right time.

I love the Providence of that.

I love the sweet Adventure of Life!

Don't You ? :)

As always dear reader, thanks for stopping by and spending a little time with hastypearl.

...and Enjoy your Adventures, today :)

...oh, and ps... 

I bought an electric skillet and griddle this week 

and they will store just fine in my studio :)  

Mothers Day 2014 Hastypearl

Mothers Day 2014

Hastypearl

Well, here we are!

The Mothers with 130 years of Mothering Experience between us.

My Mother is 85. 

Isn't it interesting, that after a certain age, and I don't know what it is officially, 

 it seems to be acceptable, to say a woman's age.

In my mothers case, as you look at her, its because she has Somewhere, 

seemed to Find the Fountain of Youth.

On the other hand, I would NEVER say my Sisters age. 

That must be because she hasn't reached that magic number, yet!

So as our kids weren't in town, it was a day for the Three Originals, to be together.

And that almost always means...Mexican Food!!!

There are a million restaurant choices in San Antonio, but one that we frequent, is near my Mothers house...so...even though we were all stuffed, 

we went back to her house, for some Impromptu Celebrating and Chatting.

Mothers ALWAYS love Chatting!

My Mother, has lived in the same house since the early 60's.

That turned out to be a good thing, when we lost my Father.

Check out her great collection of Milk Ware, and some commemorative plates, from the church that she has also attended for that long.

And Then Enter...the Cherry on the Top of the Day...

a Collection of Seriously Chocolate Cakes.

We sampled all and came fairly close, to finishing them off. :)

Sweet Misery!

Its wonderful, to have family nearby...and to be able to say that that has been true, our whole lives.

And like last year, I got a happy surprise from both of my Out Of Town Sons.

These Stargazer Lilies from One...(you should see them NOW, with almost all blooms open), 

and a Skype call from the Other including my Grand Granddaughter, Katherine Anne!

The days and years fly by, but its Wonderful to have Loved Ones to Mark them with.

I hope your Mothers Day was Wonderful, too!

Glad that you stopped by to Hastypearl...and

maybe Next Posting, I will be able to Disclose where that Fountain of Youth, is! :)

xoxo Laura

South Central Texas Plants...Waking Up! 2014 Hastypearl

South Central Texas Native Plants....Waking Up!

3-2014

Hastypearl

Those of you that have read this blog for long, know that I'm Serious about my garden.

38 years of  Serious.

I know the challenges that my garden brings, just like All gardeners have challenges, 

and still...

we All keep at it!

This posting, was done because of some Facebook conversation today, 

in celebration of our 

State Flower...the Bluebonnet.

Bluebonnets are in the same family as many of your beautiful, Lupines.

In the Hill Country where I live, temperatures can be 8 degrees lower than San Antonio, 

which is just a few miles down the road.

Over the years, we have watched as we head out IH10, the Interstate to California, 

that after we pass 

Loop 1604 to higher ground, the temperatures, as it were... drop like a rock.

So, when I head into the metropolitan area of San Antonio, 

gardens can be a good bit farther "along", 

than mine.

That's the Fun of living where I do.

I'm also actually thinking of this posting as a gift, 

to some friends who are 

"SOTIREDSOTIREDSOTIRED" of snow!

Not sent as a Bragging, but rather sent in LOVE.

I'm hoping that you will Remember, and send us a photo gift, 

when we are in the serious "scorching" days of August... 

The kind of endurance testing "scorching", that if you EVEN THINK of saying your 80 degree days are 

SO HOT...

we will be LIKELY...to Bite your heads Off! :)

So...my gift to you....a few Texas Natives...that are Waking Up! 

Texas Bluebonnet

Lupinus Texensis

...find a field of these and you will notice Two things...

an Amazing Aroma and Children, having their pictures taken :)

Mexican Plum

Prunus Mexicana

I jumped the gun a bit with this Mexican Plum photo, as it is just before peak bloom, but I couldn't wait!!

I promise that my neighbors, have driven past this Spring bloomer for years, and never once stopped their cars, to get out and smell the most AMAZING grape fragrance!!!

But Laura and the Bees will be there together, Smiling and Sniffing away ! 

I've actually thought about placing a sign under it saying...

"Have you Smelled this tree, today?" :)

Texas Redbud

Cercis Canadensis var. texensis

We can also successfully grow, in our shallow soils and rocky alkaline limestone, 

the Mexican Redbud and the Oklahoma Redbud.

There is even a White...Redbud.

I wonder why we don't call it a... Whitebud?  ;)

Agarita

Mahonia trifoliolata

Sadly, home builders and home owners, Remove this beauty.

If they had ever smelled the flowers or seen the HOST of bees and butterflies pollinating their little hearts out, maybe they would have been slower to remove it only to replace it, with something that requires water and attention.

Close you eyes and imagine warm Butter and Honey...that's what an Agarita smells like to me!!!

As I approached this plant to take it's picture...at 20' away, I could already smell it!

So, there Dear Ones... Those still Buried in snow, 

is 

My Texas photo gift of Early Spring to you.

Reminding you to HOLD ON!

It wont be much longer!!

I will Remind you, when our temperatures are down from 100plus to 85 degrees at 10 p.m., 

and our plants to survive, have long since gone into a self induced temporary dormancy...

to Please Send Pictures of your Lavish Gardens.

And remember...No Bragging!

I love that you come here to read my blog...

xoxoLaura

Sisters! Hastypearl

 

Sisters!

 

Hastypearl

 

 

There are just Some People out there.

I hope you know One...or Lots.

 

I don't think they come in Lots.

Just Ones.

 

My One...is my Sister.

 

Eight years my elder.

One million years, my Mentor.

 

She mentors in all kinds of ways, that my mind and actions, haven't the skill.

 

In the 57 years that I have watched her...I have been the Learner.

She, the Teacher.

 

I've said before, that I've never known her to hurt me or disappoint me.

That's a pretty tall statement to make about anyone, right?

 

She's experienced life's Challenges.

The Kind that would drop many to their knees...

and if she indeed went to her knees...she Got Back Up.

 

Its been very easy for me to brag on her over the years...and I even confessed there's been too much idolizing,

but for the First Hastypearl Blog posting of the year,

I just wanted to honor her and say how THANKFUL I am, to be her sister.

 

She could Possibly kill me for doing this...but that's ok.

It will be the most Amazing and Sweet Killing, that I could ever experience :)

 

 

PROOF of how well she knows me...

 

The following pictures are part of what she gave me for Christmas!

 

Yep. It was a spot on pick, don't you think?

 

 

 

 

Some months back, Larry and I were at an amazing estate sale, in one of the historic districts in

San Antonio.

I looked up, and there in the Same Room, was my Sister and her friend.

We were so both "heads in the game", that we hadn't even noticed each other!

 

I cant pass up the opportunity to explain, that San Antonio is big, like over a million big...and we randomly? bumped into each other!

I LOVE those ODDS !

 

She had her fanny pack on and canvas bag under her arm...both absolute necessities for picking.

 

I Marveled at the Gift of That Day, but as I skipped...yeah literally...sorry...back to our car to leave, I was ever reminded, that being the younger, its possible that one day...I wont Have her anymore.

 

Just like has Already Happened, to many of You.

 

So, this morning, as I write this posting, its easy for me to see her in my mind, bumping around at an estate sale, with these two treasures on both arms...absolutely Confident that she's found my perfect Christmas gift!

 

Why?

 

Because she Knows Me.

 

 

Maybe you have a sibling that you love deeply.

 

Maybe not. And for That, I am terribly sorry. 

 

But, If you Do...you are Blessed!

 

And If you do...it never hurts to tell them One More Time...how much they mean to you :)

 

so...Love you, Dinan...

 

and

 

To my treasured Readers... Happy 2014!!!!

How in the world, did we get here So FAST???

 

PLEASE hop over to my Etsy shop, hastypearl, where until January 8th, I have All items marked 20% off!

 

If there has been something that you thought about buying from hastypearl...NOW is the time:)

...and, I hope that you will pass the word, along!

 

Use the coupon code word     20off        at checkout!

 

Hurry...the Sale wont last long!

 

xoxo Laura